Great article on how scummy the business is
- Thread starter Berniewood Hogan
- Start date
southpawstyle
Superstar
I DIDN'T KNOW YOU WERE A COMMIE, BROTHER!
"As independent contractors, wrestlers must file state income tax returns in each state that they wrestle — an onerous task — as well as pay a punishing self-employment tax.
As attorney and academic Oliver Bateman writes, “most low-level performers and members of the female Diva division operate on short-term guaranteed contracts in the mid–five figures, out of which they must pay for their travel, food and lodging.
Despite their putative “contracts,” the wrestlers can often be fired by the promotion at any time. The WWE does not pay into Social Security or unemployment insurance for the wrestlers and, in an industry in which late-life financial jeopardy is all too common, provides no pensions.
But the most immediately punishing consequence of this employment status is the lack of any form of company-paid health insurance. McMahon scoffs at this criticism, claiming “anyone who makes the kind of money that they make can easily afford their own healthcare,” and that “most independent contractors have their own healthcare.”
As attorney and academic Oliver Bateman writes, “most low-level performers and members of the female Diva division operate on short-term guaranteed contracts in the mid–five figures, out of which they must pay for their travel, food and lodging.
Despite their putative “contracts,” the wrestlers can often be fired by the promotion at any time. The WWE does not pay into Social Security or unemployment insurance for the wrestlers and, in an industry in which late-life financial jeopardy is all too common, provides no pensions.
But the most immediately punishing consequence of this employment status is the lack of any form of company-paid health insurance. McMahon scoffs at this criticism, claiming “anyone who makes the kind of money that they make can easily afford their own healthcare,” and that “most independent contractors have their own healthcare.”
good read until the end, because every wrestler who passed, didn't die because of effects of the wrestling business but it seems like this article was implying that no matter how they died it was wrestling related
TrueEpic08
Dum Shiny
Posted the Deadspin link last night. They're the same, and you might as well give Jacobin the clicks (I read the site regularly), so whatever works:
http://www.thecoli.com/threads/pro-...le-was-convincing-us-it-doesnt-matter.239598/
http://www.thecoli.com/threads/pro-...le-was-convincing-us-it-doesnt-matter.239598/
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TrueEpic08
Dum Shiny
It was more the "wrestling chews up and spits out its staple resource without really looking into the situation" thing, as they care more for the bottom line than thier wrestler's lives. At least, that's how I read it.
2 Up 2 Down
Veteran
Well I didn't think that was any kind of secret about the pension and healthcare
Berniewood Hogan
IT'S BERNIE SANDERS WITH A STEEL CHAIR!
MY BAD, BROTHER!
Arrogance.
King Novak of Melbourne, the First of His Name
I haven't read the article yet, but I will before the end of the day. I'll come back to this and edit my post with more thoughts.
But, if a wrestler is signed by a promotion with a national TV deal, they should be in the screen actor's guild. I really hoped that the Raven/Mike Sanders suit would result in changes in the industry but it was tossed out for being a shallow case, if I recall correctly. Eventually the E is going to fukk up and lose a lawsuit like that one day, though. And it will be for the better of all the performers that it happens. I'm interested in what happens now with CM Punk's contractual status, can the E try to tack on time to his like they are Mysterio's? Or was moving him to the Alumni section of the website their last move, signaling that they won't pursue any further action in his case?
But, if a wrestler is signed by a promotion with a national TV deal, they should be in the screen actor's guild. I really hoped that the Raven/Mike Sanders suit would result in changes in the industry but it was tossed out for being a shallow case, if I recall correctly. Eventually the E is going to fukk up and lose a lawsuit like that one day, though. And it will be for the better of all the performers that it happens. I'm interested in what happens now with CM Punk's contractual status, can the E try to tack on time to his like they are Mysterio's? Or was moving him to the Alumni section of the website their last move, signaling that they won't pursue any further action in his case?
TrueEpic08
Dum Shiny
No prob. You enjoy your birthday/schilling party?
The Raven case got thrown out due to him taking so long to file suit (Raven was fired in 2003, and I believe he brought suit in 2010 or so). However, if the Lesnar suit from 2005 had gone to court instead of being settled (since Lesnar just wanted to wrestle again), then there might have been a different story. Any reasonably competent lawyer could beat the WWE on a case like this, since the WWE's contracts in no way, shape or form passes the "Right to Control" test.
Yes, they should be in the SAG, and judging from how many wrestlers attempt to get movie roles just to get an SAG card, they at least implicitly realize that as well.
They're not going to go after CM Punk, they just announced that he's going to be in WWE 2K5. Not to mention that them suing Punk or inducing Punk to sue them would be bad news for WWE only. If Punk has to pay the company back, he can do that, but that would probably come at the cost or WWE's privileged independent contractor status. Even if they won a suit against Punk, they'd still lose out in the long run.
Berniewood Hogan
IT'S BERNIE SANDERS WITH A STEEL CHAIR!
I GAVE IT A NINE POINT NINE NINE OUT OF TEN, BROTHER!
Arrogance.
King Novak of Melbourne, the First of His Name
Thanks, I haven't been a voracious wrestling news reader for a couple of years now, so my recollection of things has been slipping a bit.
I'm sure I'll be leaning on you in the puro thread soon. Thinking of switching my Monday night wrestling viewing to New Japan.
